Self-care note: This wrap-up includes discussion of women’s health, anti-LGBTQIA+ policies and behaviours, gender based violence, and more. If you find this distressing or triggering, remember to take it at your own pace. You may prefer to read small sections, wait until you feel ready to read it all, or choose not to read it at all.
1. Police Scotland to record biological sex in crime data 🚓
Police Scotland has ended guidance that allowed people involved in crimes to be recorded by self-identified gender, and will now record biological sex instead.
Under the updated policy, officers will separately note whether someone identifies as transgender, while recording biological sex for suspects, victims and people considered at risk. The change follows a legal challenge by For Women Scotland and comes after the UK Supreme Court’s 2025 ruling that defined “woman” under the Equality Act in terms of biological sex.
Police Scotland said updating its systems to reflect the new standard will be complex, but argued the change is needed to align data collection with the law. Critics say the move marks a significant rollback in trans inclusion within Scottish public services.
Source: Attitude
2. Scottish NHS board rolls out miscarriage cradle kits 🕊️
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is set to become the first health board in the UK to roll out miscarriage collection cradles across multiple hospital sites, offering people a more dignified way to manage pregnancy loss at home.
The device fits beneath a toilet seat and is designed to help preserve pregnancy tissue for genetic testing, while also reducing the need for surgery. Supporters say it gives families more choice and clearer practical support during miscarriage, which can often be physically painful and emotionally overwhelming.
The rollout begins this year and is backed by Scottish Government funding for compassionate miscarriage care. Clinicians say the cradles could improve both patient experience and access to testing, while also helping reduce pressure on surgical services.
Source: STV News
3. Fathers to get day-one right to paternity leave from April 👶
From April 2026, paternity leave and unpaid parental leave will be available from day one of employment in the UK.
This means that family leave entitlements will be treated as immediate statutory rights, giving fathers the right to take paternity leave from their very first day at work. Until now, they had to have worked for 26 weeks with an employer before they could be eligible.
An estimated 32,000 additional fathers and 1.5 million parents will become eligible for paternity leave and unpaid parental leave, respectively.
This change is part of the first phase of reforms under the Employment Rights Act 2025 (ERA 2025), which was approved in December 2025.
Source: Secret London
4. Five supplement ads banned over women’s health claims ⚖️
Five adverts for supplements claiming to treat the menopause and other women’s health issues have been banned by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), the UK’s advertising watchdog.
Four brands claimed that their products could prevent, treat or cure the symptoms of the menopause, while a fifth brand implied its food supplements could prevent, cure or treat polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
The watchdog said the claims in the ads were “unacceptable” and risked misleading vulnerable people.
ASA investigations manager Catherine Drewett said when it comes to women’s health “people deserve clear and accurate information”, and “ads making misleading claims about treating symptoms of the menopause, PCOS and other hormonal conditions can cause real harm.”
Source: Femtech World
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5. Ejaculating more frequently may improve sperm quality 🧬
A new study suggests sperm quality may decline when sperm is stored in the body for longer periods without ejaculation. Researchers analysed data from nearly 55,000 men across 115 studies and found that longer abstinence was linked to lower sperm motility and viability, as well as more DNA damage.
The researchers say sperm appears to deteriorate during storage, possibly because of oxidative stress and energy loss. While abstinence can increase sperm count, the study suggests fresher sperm may be healthier overall.
The findings could have implications for fertility advice, particularly as people increasingly delay parenthood. The authors say sperm storage time is one factor that may be easier to change than other causes of fertility problems.
Source: The Conversation
6. Human rights groups criticise new IOC rules on trans women athletes 🏅
More than 100 human rights, sports and scientific groups have criticised new International Olympic Committee guidelines that would require genetic sex testing for athletes in women’s categories and ban transgender women, intersex athletes and some people with sex differences from competing.
Critics told the Guardian the rules are discriminatory and not supported by science, raising concerns about privacy, dignity and bodily autonomy. The IOC says the policy is intended to protect fairness and safety in women’s sport, but opponents say it marks a return to practices abandoned decades ago.
The guidelines apply to Olympic competition, though campaigners warn they could influence rules adopted by national sports bodies. Human rights experts also said the policy could disproportionately affect intersex athletes and women judged on their appearance.
Source: The Guardian
7. India passes trans rights law requiring medical verification 🏳️⚧️
India has passed a new law requiring transgender people to have their gender verified by a medical board and approved by a district magistrate, replacing the previous system of self-identification.
Activists say the change could bring back invasive examinations that many thought had ended.
The amendments also introduce a narrower definition of transgender identity and new criminal provisions linked to gender-affirming procedures. Critics say the law contradicts India’s 2014 Supreme Court ruling, which recognised gender self-identification and held that mandatory medical checks were unethical and unlawful.
Activists warn the changes could reverse hard-won gains in legal recognition, access to welfare and protection from discrimination for trans people in India.
Source: The Independent
8. OpenAI pauses plans for ChatGPT “erotic mode” 💬
OpenAI has reportedly paused plans to develop an “erotic” mode for ChatGPT, with no timeline for if or when the feature might return. The idea, first raised by chief executive Sam Altman last year, had drawn criticism from tech watchdogs and concern inside the company.
According to TechCrunch, the proposed feature was delayed several times amid debates over safety and potential harm. The pause comes as OpenAI appears to be narrowing its focus, stepping back from several side projects to prioritise business and coding tools.
The decision highlights how sexual content remains a flashpoint in debates over AI, particularly around safety, moderation and the boundaries of what chatbots should be designed to do.
Source: TechCrunch
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